Core Fitness: Field Exercises to Build a Strong Core
Coaches, I know what you’re saying. Sure, Wendy, you’ve told us core fitness is essential. You’ve shown us how to do core fitness with the exercise ball. You’ve inspired us with your planking ability – oh wait, that was Alan Webb. These are great home exercises for the exercise video set and the really diligent […]
VYSA Conference this Weekend
This Saturday, February 2nd, come on down for the Virginia Youth Soccer Association Conference at the Richmond Convention Center. There will be some great soccer workshops and teaching sessions from 8-5 plus vendors and exhibitors with the latest ideas, gear and give-a-ways. Plus, you can meet Caroline Miller, UVA soccer star and member of the […]
Nix the Cardio-loading and Balance Your Fitness This Year
This is gonna be a decidedly low tech Christmas and new year for me. I have just read Lenny Bernstein’s blog in the Washington Post magazine highlighting a couple of “science fitness” options: an ear bud who whispers sweet workout feedback into your ear and a hovercraft that badgers you to stay on pace. Not […]
Are Fitness and Fun Important to Your Kid?
All kids will be healthy if Fit2Finish has its way and they’ll have fun doing it. It shouldn’t be a chore or a ‘work’out. We believe in fitness that’s fun for every body, even for elite athletes with performance on their minds. This fall F2F has been on the field with kids from the Vienna […]
Resistance Band Strength Training Home Program
Resistance bands are a great and fun way to help your athletes develop all-around fitness. I use them for field games during training. Each player that participates in Fit2Finish training gets a band to take home. Kids of all ages – including coaches – love them. But one of the best things about them is…they’re […]
A Better Way to Ice an Injury, Here is the Recipe
I am all about prevention here at Fit2Finish, but I know there are bumps and bruises going on out there. We’ve all tried the leaky bags and the expensive store bought “chemical” concoctions and peeling the dixie cups and digging out the frozen peas. I am going these one better – cheap, no leaking, conforms […]
Save the Knees: Beating ACL Injuries with Prevention
On July 10, 2011, Ali Krieger pounded home the penalty kick that advanced the U.S. Women’s National Team past Marta and the Brazilians in the 2011 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals. Remember? We couldn’t stop watching the replays. Now, it’s 2012 and time for Olympic gold, but where is Ali? Out with an ACL, an anterior […]
Concussion Conundrum: Referees’ Role In Preventing Head Injuries
Everyone agrees: We don’t want our young players suffering concussions. The difficulty comes in figuring out how to minimize them. There is a lot to this conversation; I only just scratched the surface in a two-part article. In the first, we looked at the nature of the injury and in the second, how to return […]
Strengthening Our Girls Against Concussions, Three Simple Ways to Build Neck and Core Strength While Keeping it Fun
Concussions are rampant in youth soccer, especially with our girls. We know what symptoms to look for. We have taught them proper technique. But girls need to be physically stronger in the challenge in order to protect themselves from injury. Check out the Fit2Finish video for three ways to strengthen your players that are simple, effective, and […]
Concussions in Youth Sports Part II: What Parents, Coaches and Players Can Do
Read part I of this concussion series here. Paul Rupp, head Athletic Trainer at Oakton High School in Vienna, Va., has an extensive concussion protocol that is well-documented in athletic training literature. First, when he diagnoses a concussion, the student’s circle of teachers, administrators, counselors and parents are all notified. The athlete is counseled to stay home, […]